Geeks To Go is a helpful hub, where thousands of volunteer geeks quickly serve friendly answers and support. Check out the forums and get free advice from the experts. Register now to gain access to all of our features, it's FREE and only takes one minute. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more.

"Ads not by this site" hijacking!

NorthstarATL

Posted 13 November 2013 - 08:32 PM

NorthstarATL

Member

Member

62 posts

Two days ago I updated KMPlayer. I usually am careful about not installing anything 'extra', but the responses were counterintuitive and I wound up with a Conduit toolbar and about 85 PUPS, according to Malwarebytes. I managed to get rid of them, or so I thought, but I compounded the error when I downloaded a file from Sendspace, which also seemed to add some items. I removed what I could, but now I'm getting a white space at the top of my browser that says "ads not by this site", which means I'm infected by something which isn't actually hijacking, but doing the next best thing, I guess. I ran adwcleaner and it found instances of 'conduit' and 'sendspace', but when I hit 'clean' it hangs for about half an hour and then it reads as 'not responding'. You guys have helped me in the past, and I've tried to be careful, but I definitely messed up and need help again. I am disabled and this computer is like my lifeline. I cannot replace it any time soon. Thank you!OTL scan:OTL logfile created on: 11/13/2013 9:09:27 PM - Run 1OTL by OldTimer - Version 3.2.69.0 Folder = C:\Users\Kenn\DownloadsWindows Vista Home Premium Edition Service Pack 2 (Version = 6.0.6002) - Type = NTWorkstationInternet Explorer (Version = 9.0.8112.16421)Locale: 00000409 | Country: United States | Language: ENU | Date Format: M/d/yyyy

Advertisements

RKinner

Posted 13 November 2013 - 08:47 PM

RKinner

Malware Expert

Expert

20,333 posts

Download : ADWCleaner to your desktop. Make sure you get the correct Download button. Sometimes the ads on BleepingComputer will mimic the real Download button which should say: Download Now @BleepingComputer

NOTE: If using Internet Explorer and you get an alert that stops the program downloading, click on the warning and allow the download to complete.

Close all programs, pause your anti-virus and run AdwCleaner (Vista or Win 7 => right click and Run As Administrator).

Click on Scan and follow the prompts. Let it run unhindered. When done, click on the Clean button, and follow the prompts. Allow the system to reboot. You will then be presented with the report. Copy & Paste this report on your next reply.

The report will be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.

Junkware-Removal-Tool

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop. Make sure you get the correct Download button. Sometimes the ads on BleepingComputer will mimic the real Download button which should say: Download Now @Author's site

Pause your anti-virus. Close all browsers.

Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".

The tool will open and start scanning your system.

Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.

On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

Right click to run as administrator (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File). When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.

Press Scan button.

It will produce a log called FRST.txt in the same directory the tool is run from.

Please copy and paste log back here.

The first time the tool is run it generates another log (Addition.txt - also located in the same directory as FRST.exe/FRST64.exe). Please also paste that along with the FRST.txt into your reply.

Some content of TEMP:====================C:\Users\Kenn\AppData\Local\Temp\FastDownload.exeC:\Users\Kenn\AppData\Local\Temp\ntdll_dump.dllC:\Users\Kenn\AppData\Local\Temp\Quarantine.exeC:\Users\Kenn\AppData\Local\Temp\tbConn.dll

Name: Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650 Consumer IRDescription: Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650 Consumer IRClass Guid: {745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da}Manufacturer: HauppaugeService: HcwMocurIRProblem: : Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)Resolution: Reasons for this error include a driver that is not present; a binary file that is corrupt; a file I/O problem, or a driver that references an entry point in another binary file that could not be loaded.Uninstall the driver, and then click "Scan for hardware changes" to reinstall or upgrade the driver.

Name: Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650 Consumer IRDescription: Hauppauge WinTV DCR-2650 Consumer IRClass Guid: {745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da}Manufacturer: HauppaugeService: HcwMocurIRProblem: : Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)Resolution: Reasons for this error include a driver that is not present; a binary file that is corrupt; a file I/O problem, or a driver that references an entry point in another binary file that could not be loaded.Uninstall the driver, and then click "Scan for hardware changes" to reinstall or upgrade the driver.

==================== Event log errors: =========================

Application errors:==================

System errors:=============

Microsoft Office Sessions:=========================

CodeIntegrity Errors:=================================== Date: 2013-10-09 09:57:34.987 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:57:34.855 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:57:34.730 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:57:34.558 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:48.952 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:48.810 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:48.675 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:48.059 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:47.874 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

Date: 2013-10-09 09:56:47.739 Description: Code Integrity is unable to verify the image integrity of the file \Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Drivers\Backup\NisDrv\NisDrvWFP.sys because the set of per-page image hashes could not be found on the system.

RKinner

Posted 13 November 2013 - 11:44 PM

Download the attached fixlist.txt to the same location as FRSTRun FRST and press FixA fix log will be generated please post that

Then run FRST again and do a Scan and post the log.

Right click on (My) Computer and select Manage (Continue) Then click on the arrow in front of Event Viewer. Next Click on the arrow in front of Windows Logs Right click on System and Clear Log, Clear. Repeat for Application.

Reboot.

Start, All Programs, Accessories then right click on Command Prompt and Run as Administrator. Then type (with an Enter after each line).

sfc /scannow

(This will check your critical system files. Does this finish without complaint? IF it says it couldn't fix everything then:

Start, All Programs, Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and Run as Administrator, Continue. Right click and Paste or Edit then Paste and the copied line should appear.Hit Enter. Copy and paste the text from notepad or if it is too big, just attach the file.)

1. Please download the Event Viewer Tool by Vino Rossohttp://images.malwar...om/vino/VEW.exeand save it to your Desktop:2. Right-click VEW.exe and Run AS Administrator3. Under 'Select log to query', select:

* System4. Under 'Select type to list', select:* Error* Warning

Then use the 'Number of events' as follows:

1. Click the radio button for 'Number of events'Type 20 in the 1 to 20 boxThen click the Run button.Notepad will open with the output log.

Please post the Output log in your next reply then repeat but select Application.

I then followed your instructions, clearing, rebooting, and running the scan. It completed and I've attached a screenshot of the result. (Don't know if I should locate and post the log.)
Here's the System result from VEW:
Vino's Event Viewer v01c run on Windows Vista in English
Report run at 14/11/2013 1:34:17 AM

Log: 'System' Date/Time: 14/11/2013 6:14:44 AM
Type: Error Category: 0
Event: 7023 Source: Service Control Manager
The BlueStacks Android Service service terminated with the following error: An exception occurred in the service when handling the control request.

Log: 'System' Date/Time: 14/11/2013 6:14:44 AM
Type: Error Category: 0
Event: 7000 Source: Service Control Manager
The PandoraService service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the file specified.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'System' Log - Warning Type
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It doesn't look good to me, but I don't know what to look for. Here's the Application Run:
Vino's Event Viewer v01c run on Windows Vista in English
Report run at 14/11/2013 1:42:52 AM

I see this error a lot. Usually we just go into services and disable the service as it is not something you really need. It detects HP products on your local LAN.

Right click on Computer and select Manage then Services and Applications then Services. Find HP CUE DeviceDiscovery and right click and select Properties then change the Startup Type: to Disabled. OK. If you really need this then go back to HP and get the latest version and see if installing that will fix the problem.

Log: 'System' Date/Time: 14/11/2013 6:14:44 AMType: Error Category: 0Event: 7023 Source: Service Control ManagerThe BlueStacks Android Service service terminated with the following error: An exception occurred in the service when handling the control request.

I would try downloading and installing (right click and Run As Admin) the latest version of BlueStacks:

Log: 'System' Date/Time: 14/11/2013 6:14:44 AMType: Error Category: 0Event: 7000 Source: Service Control ManagerThe PandoraService service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the file specified.

This adware installed as foistware by KMP. You can go into Services and Disable it as we did for HP Cue.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'Application' Log - Error Type~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Log: 'Application' Date/Time: 14/11/2013 6:14:44 AMType: Error Category: 0Event: 10 Source: Microsoft-Windows-WMIEvent filter with query "SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA "Win32_Processor" AND TargetInstance.LoadPercentage > 99" could not be reactivated in namespace "//./root/CIMV2" because of error 0x80041003. Events cannot be delivered through this filter until the problem is corrected.

This is all from Windows Live. Most people don't use it so I usually just have them uninstall all Windows Live starting with Windows Live Essentials. If you do use it then once you uninstall it find the latest version and install that. http://windows.micro...live/essentials

Then

Right click on (My) Computer and select Manage (Continue) Then click on the arrow in front of Event Viewer. Next Click on the arrow in front of Windows Logs Right click on System and Clear Log, Clear. Repeat for Application.

Reboot.

2. Right-click VEW.exe and Run AS Administrator3. Under 'Select log to query', select:

* System4. Under 'Select type to list', select:* Error* Warning

Then use the 'Number of events' as follows:

1. Click the radio button for 'Number of events'Type 20 in the 1 to 20 boxThen click the Run button.Notepad will open with the output log.

Please post the Output log in your next reply then repeat but select Application.

NorthstarATL

Posted 14 November 2013 - 01:01 PM

NorthstarATL

Member

Topic Starter

Member

62 posts

Good afternoon! Thanks again for working on this! Following your instructions I hit one snag, with the Fixit. I was told that it did not apply to my system and failed to run.
I uninstalled Windows Live. I THOUGHT that the weekly Windows Updates were updating those programs as necessary as they dowith Windows Security Essentials, but I was wrong, as they are now unsupported! I upgraded Blue Stacks. I THOUGHT I'd uninstalled Pandora, as I knew it to be attached to KMPlayer (which is where this started), but apparently not deeply enough!
Logs:
VEW; System:
Vino's Event Viewer v01c run on Windows Vista in English
Report run at 14/11/2013 1:48:25 PM

Also wanted to add that I started doing some searching in Google Chrome (I'd been switching back and forth some for awhile), and am NOT getting the 'ads not by this site' thing on Chrome. Could it be not in my system but in Firefox?

Start, All Programs, Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and Run as Administrator, Continue. Right click and Paste or Edit then Paste and the copied line should appear.
Hit Enter. Close the command window if it doesn't close itself.

Go back to the services window. Start Windows Management Instrumentation Service

Also start Security Center, and IP Helper. Close the services window then clear the alarms and reboot:

NorthstarATL

Posted 14 November 2013 - 01:46 PM

NorthstarATL

Member

Topic Starter

Member

62 posts

Two things:
First, after the reboot I had possibly the fastest startup that I'd seen in a long while!
Second, I decided that, since I imported the important data from Firefox to Chrome (and backed it up on a flash drive), I might as well reset Firefox completely, and ....NO more message! It worked! Before I posted here I went onto Firefox's forum page and looked up 'ads not by this site' in case others were having the same problem and there might be a simple solution. The general consensus was that it was a virus and a redirect (of sorts) and the computer was a goner! I cannot TELL you how happy I am and how thankful I am for your help and patience with this! We still have more to do though, right?

RKinner

Posted 14 November 2013 - 02:02 PM

RKinner

Malware Expert

Expert

20,333 posts

The remaining errors are caused by msiexec and spoolv. msiexec is the installer so it just may not have been finished with an update. The other is part of the printer software so it may have a document that it can't print. Let's clear the alarms, reboot and run VEW again as before and see:

Right click on (My) Computer and select Manage (Continue) Then click on the arrow in front of Event Viewer. Next Click on the arrow in front of Windows Logs Right click on System and Clear Log, Clear. Repeat for Application.

Reboot.

2. Right-click VEW.exe and Run AS Administrator
3. Under 'Select log to query', select:

* System
4. Under 'Select type to list', select:
* Error
* Warning

Then use the 'Number of events' as follows:

1. Click the radio button for 'Number of events'
Type 20 in the 1 to 20 box
Then click the Run button.
Notepad will open with the output log.

Please post the Output log in your next reply then repeat but select Application.

RKinner

Posted 14 November 2013 - 02:28 PM

Looks great as long as you remembered to reboot between clearing the alarms and running VEW.

I think we can clean up now.

Copy the following:

:Commands
[CLEARALLRESTOREPOINTS]
[Reboot]

Right click on OTL and Run As Administrator. In the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the copied text (Ctrl + v) and then hit Run Fix.

That will get the last of the malware off the system.

You can uninstall or delete any tools we had you download and their logs.

If we ran Combofix:To uninstall combofix, copy the next line:

"%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix.exe" /Uninstall

Start, All Programs, Accessories then right click on Command Prompt and Run As Administrator.then right click, Paste, then hit Enter.

OTL has a cleanup tab but DO NOT USE IT!. There are reports that it leaves the PC unbootable. Instead just delete OTL.exe and the folder c:\_OTL.

To hide hidden files again:

Vista or Win7

# Open the Control Panel menu and click Folder Options.# After the new window appears select the View tab.# Remove the check in the checkbox labeled Display the contents of system folders.# Under the Hidden files and folders section select the radio button labeled Do not Show hidden files and folders.# Check the checkbox labeled Hide protected operating system files.# Press the Apply button and then the OK button and exit My Computer.

Also make sure you have the latest versions of any adobe.com products you use like Shockwave, Flash or Acrobat.

Whether you use adobe reader, acrobat or fox-it to read pdf files you need to disable Javascript in the program. There is an exploit out there now that can use it to get on your PC. For Adobe Reader: Start, All Programs, Adobe Reader, Edit, Preferences, Click on Javascript in the left column and uncheck Enable Acrobat Javascript. OK Close program. It's the same for Foxit reader except you uncheck Enable Javascript Actions.

Unless you have the latest version of Avast which has its own update checker: To help keep your programs up-to-date you should download and run the UpdateChecker: http://www.filehippo.../updatechecker/(You don't need to download Betas and if there is a program you don't use you can just uninstall it rather than update it. Exception is MSN messenger which appears to be part of Windows.)If you get a blocked program notice after installing updatechecker then change it to not run at start then manually run it once a week. Seems to work best if Firefox is the default browser. Windows always hides its icon so you need to unhide it. Click on the up arrow to the left of the clock. Then click on Customize. Maximize the window so you can see all of the options. Scroll Down and find the File Hippo UpdateChecker and change its Behaviors to Show Icon and Notifications. OK. When you reboot you should see the icon. It will take it a minute to finish checking then it will put up a bubble if you need to update something. Click on the bubble and it should open in your browser. (Seems to work best if it uses Firefox. If you do not use Firefox as your default browser then right click on the icon and click on Settings. Then on Results. Change the Open Results in Default Browser to Custom Browser and then select the line that has Firefox.exe in it. While there, also check Hide Beta Versions. OK. ) You will see a list of programs that have updates with green down arrows next to them. You do not need to download any Beta Versions. There is an option Settings to Hide Beta Versions. I do not advise updating Windows Messenger unless you really use it so I right click on the Icon and Customize Results then find Microsoft Messenger and change Show All Releases to Hide All Releases. OK.

You can also try Secunia PSI http://secunia.com/v...l/download_psi/ Same kind of info. You don't need both.If you use Chrome/Firefox/IE then get the AdBlock Plus Add-on. Go to adblockplus.org with each browser and get the add-on.

If Chrome/Firefox is slow loading make sure it only has the current Java add-on. Then download and run Speedy Fox.http://www.crystalidea.com/speedyfox . Close Chrome/Firefox. Hit Optimize. You can run it any time that Chrome/Firefox seems slow.

Be warned: If you use Limewire, utorrent or any of the other P2P programs you will almost certain be coming back to the Malware Removal forum. If you must use P2P then submit any files you get to http://virustotal.com before you open them.

Due to a recent rise in the number of Crytolocker infections I am now recommending you install:

The free version does not update on its own so you should check for updated versions once in a while.

If you have a router, log on to it today and change the default password! If using a Wireless router you really should be using encryption on the link. Use the strongest (newest) encryption method that your router and PC wireless adapter support especially if you own a business. See http://www.king5.com...-120637284.html and http://www.seattlepi...ted-1344185.php for why encryption is important. If you don't know how, visit the router maker's website. They all have detailed step by step instructions or a wizard you can download.

Special note on Java. Old Java versions should be removed after first clearing the Java Cache by following the instructions in:http://www.java.com/...lugin_cache.xmlThen remove the old versions by going to Control Panel, Programs and Features and Uninstall all Java programs which are not Java Version 7 update 25 or better. These may call themselves: Java Runtime, Runtime Environment, Runtime, JRE, Java Virtual Machine, Virtual Machine, Java VM, JVM, VM, J2RE, J2SE. Get the latest version from Java.com. They will usually attempt to foist some garbage like the Ask toolbar, Yahoo toolbar or McAfee Security Scan on you as part of the download. Just uncheck the garbage before the download (or install) starts. If you use a 64-bit browser and want the 64-bit version of Java you need to use it to visit java.com.Due to multiple security problems with Java we are now recommending that it not be installed unless you absolutely know you need it. IF that is the case then go to Control Panel, Java, Security and slide it up to the highest level. OK.

Make sure Windows Updates is turned and that it works. Go to Control panel, Windows Updates and see if it works.

My help is free but if you wish to show your appreciation, please donate to Kwiaht instead of me. It's a local environmental organization that I volunteer with: http://www.kwiaht.org/donate.htm(The name means something like "clean place" in one of the local native-American dialects)

NorthstarATL

Posted 14 November 2013 - 05:32 PM

NorthstarATL

Member

Topic Starter

Member

62 posts

Thank you! I made one error. I did the FileHippo thing, and updated a ton of programs. The Conduit Toolbar wormed its way into my system again. Took over Firefox, Chrome, and IE! I uninstalled it from Programs/Features (Mcafee had also leeched in), but it didn't go away. I did another reset of Firefox (because I hadn't done anything with it since the previous one) and was able to remove the toolbar. Changed the IE homepage in Safe Mode. Will have to research how to get it off the computer entirely.

RKinner

Posted 14 November 2013 - 06:21 PM

NorthstarATL

Posted 14 November 2013 - 07:52 PM

NorthstarATL

Member

Topic Starter

Member

62 posts

Thanks! I did. I was able to reset the homepage of Chrome by going into Tools, Extensions, and deleting the offending toolbar! I ran Adware and Malarebytes, as well as CC Cleaner, and a trial version of Hitman Pro (suggested at this site:Website); the toolbar was packed in something called Sweettunes in with ITunes. I should have been wary of it when File Hippo wanted to update, as I'd just purchased from there yesterday, but I had already updated 10 or so programs, and wasn't as careful as I should have been. Thanks for your help! I'm going to eat and sleep now.